Chapter 14: All The Time In The World

The Hungarian Horntail standing before Annie let out a small roar which almost burst her eardrums. She had to cover her ears. Looking at it standing over her, just then she realized that it was larger than any creature she had seen up to that point.

The last time she saw it, she maintained a safe distance from it. Of course, she had just stepped into this world and it was a bit too much sensory and visual overload for her, seeing all of the magical creatures in their habitat. That's why, she had left Newt to take care of it.

Only now she could comprehend how enormous it was.

Staring back at the dilated yellow eyes staring at her, she let her thoughts run wild, 'How long it would take for it to kill? Whether I would die quickly or slowly? Whether my death would be torturing? Is death even real? Or did I just close my eyes there and wake up here? I don't even how dying even feels since I don't remember much from the time that I supposedly died.'

Annie shook her head and scolded herself, 'What am I thinking? I have to assist Newt in applying the antidote to the Horntail and here I am thinking about death. I tend to overlook my special gift. The gift of attracting and calming magical beasts. They are attracted by something that lay deep inside me. At least, that's what Dumbledore and Newt say. This can be extremely useful. I shouldn't underestimate it.'

Walking forward slowly and carefully, Annie kept staring back at the Horntail's dilated eyes, making extra sure she was not walking into a trap.

'Sorry Newt, but as much as I trust you, I still have to be prepared against a Hungarian Horntail.', She thought.

Now she stood right in front of him.

As if inclined to get into contact with Annie, the Horntail bent his head towards her, being trapped by her power.

'Good boy. Keep that up.', Annie's brain pleaded. If this thing hurt her...

Newt took the flask with the Horntail Dew out of his pocket. The liquid inside the flask was bright orange. He took the cap out and went on his knees in front of the Horntail's injured leg.

He poured the liquid over the injury that had become almost blue because of the delay of the antidote, in deep contrast with the Horntail's flashy dark skin.

SIZZLE

Instantly, the Horntail's eyes contracted and it let out a loud, bellowing roar.

ROOAAR

The skin around the injury sizzled and burnt because of the sudden contact of the antidote to its skin, causing it unbearable pain.

Before Newt and Annie could do something to stop it, the Horntail unfolded its enormous wings which almost slapped Newt away, and began flying in the air.

"Annie! Move your hands in the air, that way it is going to calm down.", Newt ordered while trying to protect the rest of the antidote in the flask.

Even more scared, but determined, Annie started moving her hands like Newt said. With a bit more confidence, she shouted at the Horntail, "Hey! Mr. Horntail! Come back here!"

The Horntail didn't even listen to her and kept on flying causing her to shout more, "Mr. Horntail! Please! Come back here! I'm not going to hurt you!"

This time, it looked at her but carried on flying.

Annie sighed and shouted and pleaded, "Please! Mr. Horntail! You need to come back here! None of us are going to hurt you! I promise!"

Suddenly, it looked at Annie, and its eyes got dilated again and it slowly descended on the ground. 

"Phew! Finally!", Annie sighed and tapped her chest, trying to calm herself down.

Now finally on the ground in front of her, the Horntail bowed his head and Annie petted him with a caring smile as if she had forgotten she was afraid just minutes ago.

The Horntail's eyes looked normal now.

"His injury is healed. He is out of danger.", Newt proudly said as it finished applying the rest of the antidote on its leg.

Newt cleared his throat and said as he stretched his hand out to her, "Come with me to my office, I want to say something to you."

Annie grabbed his hand and they vanished.

--

Now standing in a room that looked like a library that had only cushioned couches and no chairs, Annie looked around and figured out that she was in Newt's house.

She remembered seeing the dining room, where there were also cushioned couches around it. Newt preferred comfortable over formal and she had to agree with him.

Annie could see from the view out of one of the windows which was on her right.

Newt, who was next to her, cleared his throat to get her attention and said with a guilty expression, "A-Annie?"

Annie looked at him with a confused face and replied, "Yes?"

 Newt let out a sigh and said, "I have been wanting to say to you that I'm sorry for taking you out in London. With Grindelwald still on the loose, it was extremely dangerous and naive to think that he wouldn't try to do something. And I-I had to keep you safe while we were there. I've been thinking about it since the attack and just wanted to let it out."

Sighing, Annie smiled at him and placed her hand on his shoulder while saying, "Newt, I've been also thinking about this. You aren't the only one who is feeling guilty. I've been too. I shouldn't have insisted on coming with you. It was better that way, but my selfish side still wanted to see wherever you took me because everything related to you is intriguing."

She tapped Teddy's butt lightly who was sitting on her shoulder and said while smiling, "Like this little fella here."

His shine overtaking him, Newt didn't say anything else and nodded gratefully to Annie.

"So... putting this stuff behind us, I wanted to s-"

Something caught Annie's eyes. There was a flask on one of the bookshelves which reminded her of the one they picked up at Mr. Mulpepper's apothecary.

"Hey, Newt! What's that?" She asked while pointing at the flask.

"Hmm? Oh, that! That is just one of the empty flasks that are lying around in my house.", Newt replied and asked, "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know but..", She recalled the failed Lady Luck potion and the Angel's Luck potion that intrigued her the most and said, "I think I might try my hand at potion making."

"Huh! Why potion making, specifically?" Newt asked.

"Maybe it's because potions interest me a lot and also because I'm lying in my bed every single day WHEN I'm not on a weird adventure with you."

"So..", She asked him, "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Go ahead, Annie. Anything you want."

"Can I get a cauldron?"